2017 TCL Premier League | Round 13

Despite earning a nine-zip start in defending his two previous crowns, Longford captain-coach Josh Adams knows this week’s opponent Cressy has plenty of tricks in its armoury.

WATCHFUL: Cressy all-rounder Sam Graham at the crease against Legana last week.

The Bulldogs find themselves 5-4-1 in fourth position under the guidance of experienced campaigner Damian Whybrow.

“We've got the respect for them, Plugger’s doing a great job so we’re going to have to play some good cricket to beat the guys that’s for sure,” Adams said.

“We know they’ve got some really good players and on the day they’re capable of beating anyone.”

Whybrow said his charges would need to be water-tight against the pacesetters on their home ground. “We leaked 30 or 40 too many runs [last week against Legana] but you’ve just got to play a good 80 overs of cricket and it’s a good ground to play on.”

DIGGERS captain-coach Andy Bassett is praying for a win over sixth-placed ACL at Hagley Oval to lift them off the bottom of the ladder.

The Bluebacks sit just four points clear heading into the important fixture.

“ACL have a couple of good batters and bowlers, we just need to put all our stuff together,” Bassett said.

"Last week we were horrible against the two-time reigning premiers.”

Tom Maclaren, Andrew Davie and Diggers’ leading wicket-taker Scott Davie are all in line for selection, while ACL will be without unavailable captain-coach John Kedey for its final match before the Christmas break.

“We’ve just been so up and down and we had what I can only class as an embarrassing performance last week against Hadspen – it’s about time some people respond and start showing what their worth is out on the cricket field,” Kedey said.

“Our better players haven’t been able to perform consistently to the standards they were showing last year and as leaders of the club that’s where we’re probably trying to set those standards for the others to follow.

“We’re going to make changes in our batting and bowling orders because we can’t just keep going with what we’ve been doing.” Ben Harris will replace Kedey.

Fifth-ranked LEGANA, searching for its first 40-over victory in three weeks, host a fearsome Beauty Point outfit.

Durhams captain-coach Aaron Dusautoy is still without opening bowlers opening bowlers Geoff Stick and Nathan Van Noord but is confident heading into the battle.

“Beauty Point are a tough ask. I don’t think they’re unbeatable... Jason Savage is in good form so he is going to be our key wicket,” he said.

Tamar Tigers captain-coach Rob Crane said his side is building towards a battle with Longford next week and will be missing batsman Stuart Prewer.